[cobirds] Bird Conservancy of the Rockies - Chatfield Banding Report, 5/22/22

We had an interesting and wonder-filled day.  After being shut out for 2 days due to the storm, we were initially just happy to be back out.  Lots of broken branches and tamped down plants.  It was cool but dry, with cloud cover all morning.

We didn't have what I think of as a traditional fall-out, with huge numbers of birds flying about, searching for food.  But the change in the weather and the continued post-storm cloud cover changed the composition of birds we caught - we had 7 new species for the season today, including 1 swallow and 4 flycatchers.  Of the flycatchers, 2 were rar-ish - an Eastern Phoebe and a Gray Flycatcher.  We also had our first Western Wood-Pewees; this is late for them, but with 6 today we are about back to normal for this time in the season.  The swallows were all Violet-greens, and we caught 7 of them.

Then there were the Red-eyed Vireos, the 6th new species for the season caught today.  In the 15 year history of the station, we had caught 3; we caught that many today, including 1 of those earlier 3, a male banded in 2017.  (Rob Raker has photographed that 2017 bird twice, once in 2020 and again this year, causing me great frustration, knowing he was around but evading our nets!)  Anyway, I think we have a small but hardy group of REVIs breeding in the station area.

The 7th new species for the season was also a new species for the station - a Western Bluebird. Bluebirds nest just west of the station, up in the brushy area between the station and Wadsworth.  However, this is the first time one (a breeding male) has wandered east into one of our nets.

So, total for the day was 38 new bandings, 4 new returns, and 15 previously caught this season for a total of 57 birds of 21 species.  Here is the breakdown of the 38 new plus 4 new returns:

Downy Woodpecker 1 return banded 2016 - this guy would have been the big news on most days this season - a breeding male that had not been recaptured until now.

Western Wood-Pewee 6 FOS

Gray Flycatcher 1 FOS

Cordilleran Flycatcher 1 FOS

Eastern Phoebe 1 FOS

Warbling Vireo 2

Red-eyed Vireo 2 new, 1 return banded 2017 FOS

Violet-green Swallow 7 FOS

House Wren 1 new, 1 banded 2021

Western Bluebird 1 FOS, first ever

Swainson's Thrush 3

Gray Catbird 1

Yellow Warbler 5 new, 1 banded 2019

Wilson's Warbler 1

Lincoln's Sparrow 2

Bullock's Oriole 4

We are open 6 mornings per week, closed on Mondays.  Registration is required to visit on the weekends - there are three 1 hour sessions, starting at 7:30, 8:30 and 9:30.  Go here to register.  There are school groups every week day, arriving about 9:30.  Individuals may drop by early mornings during the week although there are groups visiting early on some days.

Meredith McBurney
Bander, Chatfield Station

Bird Conservancy of the Rockies 

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